Combination machine learning algorithms for computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis

ABSTRACT

This invention utilizes a number of Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques with different learning methods in a computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) device. Specifically, an unsupervised learning method is used for clustering of types of abnormal findings. Then a number of classifiers for each type of findings are trained with appropriate learning algorithms; and combined in three different manners to produce one classifier that can be operated at three different operating points. A fuzzy system is used for mapping the findings to diagnostic reports constructed using a formal language. Finally, the finding statistics is calculated based on Bayesian probability. During image review, the device provides the readers some insight as to how it derives its outputs. The output of the device can be updated in an interactive and progressive manner by a human reader (radiologist). The output from classification can be updated by the human, and is fed as input to the assessment task. Again the output from assessment can be updated by the human reader, and is fed as input for the machine to produce statistical information. If so configured, the interactive information can be added to an online database so that the device can adapt its future behavior based on the new information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Related U.S. Application Data Provisional application No. 60/919,459, filed on Mar. 23, 2007.

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,549 B2 02/2006 Zhang et al. “Computer-aided image analysis” U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,074 June 1998 Barnhill et al. “Computer assisted methods for diagnosing diseases”

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

L. A. Zadeh, “Fuzzy Sets” Information and Control, vol. 8, pp. 338-353, 1965

L. A. Zadeh, “The Concept of a Linguistic Variable and its Application to Approximate Reasoning” Information Science, vol. 8, pp. 199-249, 1975 P. Innocent and R. I. John, “Computer Aided Fuzzy Medical Diagnosis” Information Science, vol. 162, pp. 81-104, 2004

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computational intelligence (CI) combines elements of learning, adaptation, evolution and fuzzy logic that are all closely related to machine learning—to allow one to create, in some sense, intelligent applications. CI techniques typically rely on heuristic algorithms in neural networks, fuzzy systems and evolutionary computation. Each of these algorithms has advantages and disadvantages, and many computer-aided, review and diagnosis (abstractly called CAD) applications have used one of these algorithms (see reference list). However, CAD applications for medical imaging systems often require the integration of several of these algorithms to achieve the efficiency and accuracy needed in the radiology practice.

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art by optimal and integrated use of multiple machine learning algorithms from the computational intelligence methodologies. The technique in the present invention is specifically applied to medical imaging applications in the domain of computer-aided detection and diagnosis of cancer or other abnormality in the human body using expert knowledge, patient clinical information and images from a variety of modalities, such as, digital mammography, ultrasound, MRI or CT.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

CI includes neural networks (NN), fuzzy systems (FS) and evolutionary computation (EC).

A neural network is a computing solution that is loosely modeled after cortical structures of the brain. It consists of interconnected processing elements called nodes or neurons that work together to produce an output function. Neural networks are trainable systems that can “learn” to solve complex problems from a set of exemplars and generalize the “acquired knowledge” to solve unforeseen problems as in breast cancer detection from mammograms, i.e., mammography CAD.

A fuzzy system is based on fuzzy logic theory—dealing with reasoning that is approximate rather than precisely deduced from classical predicate logic. There are many applications of fuzzy systems that are in control system. However this invention deals with well thought out real world expert values, such as, language generated by radiologists, for complex diagnosis tasks.

Evolution computation uses non-deterministic methods to adapt behavior over time. Such techniques are inspired by adaptive methods found in nature and solve problems by modeling evolutionary processes. Here we apply those ideas to the interactive progression for a CAD system.

There are three major learning paradigms in CI, each corresponding to a particular abstract learning task: supervised learning, unsupervised learning and reinforcement learning. Most training algorithms can be viewed as a straightforward application of optimization theory and statistical estimation.

This invention utilizes a number of CI techniques with different learning methods in a computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) device. Specifically, an unsupervised learning method is used for clustering of types of abnormal findings, such as, lesion types from mammography exams: masses; architectural distortion densities; and calcifications. Then the next step is to classify the findings by type, which could be cancer; benign lesion; or normal tissue. Each classifier is trained with an appropriate learning algorithm, for example, backpropagation algorithm for training a neural network for the relatively simple classifier using a small number of features; and a support vector machine for another classifier using a large number of features. A combined classifier is produced to perform classification task at three different operating points. A fuzzy system is used for assessing the findings in order to generate diagnosis reports in a formal language, such as, BI-RADS categories.

During image review, the device provides some insight as to how it generates its outputs. The output of the device can be updated in an interactive and progressive manor by a human observer (radiologist)—the output from detection or classification of cancer can be updated (or corrected) by the human. Then the updated detection output is fed as inputs to the assessment task. Again the assessment diagnosis output can be updated by a human, and the modified assessment output is fed as input for the machine to produce statistical information. The radiologist uses the statistical information in the final diagnosis report. If so configured, the updated information can be added to an online database so that the device can adapt its behavior based on this new information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The ideas discussed above are illustrated in generically FIG. 1 as a high-level framework, and specifically for three different breast imaging modalities in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. The illustrated modalities are X-ray mammography; breast ultrasound; and breast MRI. These ideas can easily be extended to other disease detection and diagnostic tasks and other radiographic imaging modalities. Detailed information for each block in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention utilizes a number of Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques with different learning methods in a computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) device.

As shown in FIG. 1, an unsupervised learning method is used for clustering of types of abnormal findings. Then a number of classifiers for each type of findings are trained with appropriate learning algorithms; and combined in three different manners to produce one classifier that can be operated at three different operating points. A fuzzy system is used for mapping the findings to diagnostic reports constructed using a formal language. Finally, the finding statistics is calculated based on Bayesian probability. Also in FIG. 1, during image reading, the device provides the readers some insight as to how it derives its outputs. The output of the device can be updated in an interactive and progressive manner by a human reader (radiologist). The output from classification can be updated by the human, and is fed as input to the assessment task. Again the output from assessment can be updated by the human reader, and is fed as input for the machine to produce statistical information. If so configured, the interactive information can be added to an online database so that the device can adapt its future behavior based on the new information.

FIG. 2 applies the above method to a mammography CAD system. FIG. 3 applies the above method to an ultrasound CAD system. FIG. 4 applies the above method to an MRI CAD system.

The inputs to the above mentioned systems are initial abnormality candidates. FIG. 5 provides a flowchart to produce the initial abnormality candidates.

Clustering is the partitioning of a data set into subset (clusters), so that the data in each subset share some common trait according to some defined distance measure. Machine learning typically regards data clustering as a form of unsupervised learning. To cluster the initial candidates or ROIs into each lesion types, such as, masses, calcifications. FIG. 6 provides two algorithms: hierarchical algorithm (to find successive clusters using previously established clusters) and partitional algorithm (to determine all clusters at once). The distance measure is selected to determine similarity regarding to typical lesion properties, such as, edge, spicular and pixel normal (distribution) profile. FIG. 7 applies the clustering method to mammography CAD to cluster three clusters: calcifications; architecture distortion; and mass density.

The evolutions of machine learning and pattern analysis algorithms have undergone three revolutions. In the 1960s, it was started from the efficient algorithms for detecting linear relations within data sets. Then in the mid 1980s, to detect the nonlinear relations was posed with the introduction of backpropagation multilayer neural networks and decision tree learning algorithms. Those approaches have been widely applied for classification in CAD (Computer-aided detection) medical applications and commercial products. However these nonlinear algorithms were based on gradient descent so suffered from local minima. Since their statistical behavior was not well understood, they also frequently suffered from overfitting. A more recent approach to pattern recognition known as SVM (State vector machine—one of kernel-based learning methods) enables to analysis nonlinear relations with the efficiency that had previously been reserved for linear algorithms. Furthermore advances in their statistical analysis made it possible to do so in high-dimensional feature spaces while avoiding the dangers of overfitting. However, the kernel-based learning algorithms are usually difficult to adjust a large number of parameters that can be optimally applied to a specific application, especially, to the complex medical imaging detection, review and diagnosis tasks. In this invention, different learning method is used for different lesion type based on complexity of the lesion and number of features extracted for that lesion type. Calcifications can usually be easily characterized as sharp edge of bright spots. So the backpropagation multilayer neural network is used as its classifier. However, architecture distortion (AD) or other special type of lesions are more complicated, and usually requires a large number of features to perform the classification task. The support vector machine (SVM) or other kernel-based methods are used for the AD classifier. The SVM maps feature vectors into higher-dimensional space using some kernel function, and then it builds an optimal linear discriminating function in this space (or an optimal hyperplane that fits into the training data). FIG. 8 then combines different classifiers to produce one classifier, but can operate at three different operating points.

Fuzzy logic deals with reasoning that is approximate rather than precisely deduced from classical predicate logic. The use of fuzzy sets in real computer systems, although rarely in medical imaging device, is extensive in consumer products and control applications. FIG. 9 deals with well thought out real world expert values, such as, radiologists in their linguistic form, for complex diagnosis tasks. The type-2 fuzzy logic takes us one more step toward the goal of “Computing with Words”, which lead us to apply this technique to the use of computers to represent human perception, such as, in radiologists' decision making process for cancer detection and assessment in mammography. Type-2 fuzzy logic offers an opportunity to model levels of uncertainty with which traditional fuzzy logic (type-1) struggles. The perceptions (for example, perceptions of breast density or BI-RADS category, or even optimal image contrast) cannot be modeled by traditional mathematical techniques and that fuzzy logic is more suitable. Since they have non-crisp fuzzy membership functions, the type-2 fuzzy logic can model these perceptions more effectively than type-1 fuzzy sets whose membership grades are crisp in nature. A fuzzy rule-based system is used with NN techniques for training and/or adaptation.

Bayesian decision theory is a fundamental statistical approach to the problem of pattern classification. This approach is based on quantifying the tradeoffs between various classification decision using probability and the costs that accompany such decision. It makes the assumption that the decision problem is posed in probabilistic terms, and that all of the relevant probability values are known.

Bayes formula: P(ω_(j) |x)= p(x|ω _(j))P(ω_(j))/p(x) where p(x)=Σ_(j) p(x|ω _(j))P(ω_(j))

Bayes formula shows that by observing the feature vector x we can convert the prior probability P(ω_(j)) to the posteriori probability P(ω_(j)|x)—the probability of the state of nature being ω_(j) given the feature vector values x.

The p(x|ω_(j)) is the likelihood of ω_(j) with respect to x. For example, if the state ω_(j) is being cancer, p(x|ω_(j)) is the cancer probability density function of the feature vector x. The other states of ω can be benign lesion, or normal tissue.

The probability density function is modeled by Gaussian distribution in many other medical applications. However, the cancer detection system, the probability density functions show a particular skewed distribution, and more likely to be Rayleigh distribution. In FIG. 10, the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm is used to estimate the parameters of the probability density function in a form of Rayleigh mixture distribution. 

1. A method for utilizing Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques with different learning methods in a computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) system comprising: cluster types of abnormal findings using unsupervised learning method; train a number of classifiers with appropriate learning algorithms; combine in three different manners to produce one classifier; the classifier can be operated at three different operating points; use a fuzzy system to map the findings to diagnostic reports; calculate the finding statistics based on Bayesian probability.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein clustering types of abnormal findings, comprising: determine number of clusters and distance measure using modality knowledge hierarchical or partitional algorithm from a training database save centroid from each cluster (for online use) load cluster centroids calculate distance between candidate and each centroid classify the candidate to a cluster
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein training a number of classifiers, including: feedforward multi-layer perceptrons neural network and trained by sequential backpropagation algorithm kernel-based method to map feature vectors into higher-dimensional space and train an optimal hyper plane to fit data feedforward multi-layer perceptrons neural network and trained by RPROP algorithm
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the trained classifiers, comprising: calculate minimum output from a number of trained classifiers calculate average of outputs from a number of trained classifiers calculate maximum output from a number of trained classifiers
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein using a fuzzy system to map the findings to diagnostic reports, comprising: fuzzifier; interface; type-reduction and defuzzifier; then output formal language.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the finding statistics based on Bayesian probability, comprising: use EM algorithm to estimate the parameters of the cancer probability density function in a form of Rayleigh distribution use online database from last 12 months, or other configurable time interval, or patient population, to obtain the prior cancer probabilities calculate posterior probabilities to the classification output and assessment result
 7. The methods of claim 1, wherein the computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) system is a CAD mammography system.
 8. The methods of claim 1, wherein the computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) system is a CAD breast ultrasound system.
 9. The methods of claim 1, wherein the computer-aided detection, review and diagnosis (CAD) system is a CAD breast MRI system. 